But apart from injuries there are other issues that come into play. Ribery is fuming for not being allowed to sign with Real Madrid, Toni could still leave in the hope of getting a starting spot at another team ahead of the 2010 World Cup while Demichelis has failed to recover his stinging form of the 2007/8 season. And Tymoshchuck doesn’t like the idea of the bench.

If anyone knows how to get the best out of a player is van Gaal. He did it in the mid ’90s with Ajax Amsterdam, though mainly with a group of talented youngsters, more open to the discipline of the Dutchman.

With Barcelona in the late ’90s he was successful only in Spain, failing to win any major European trophies. He flopped with the Dutch national team but again enjoyed domestic success last season with AZ Alkmaar, again with a group of relative unknowns.

Bayern is littered with big personalities. Ribery, van Bommel, Tymoschchuk, Toni and even Klose. Whether or not he will succeed in translating this energy into silverware looks to be this Bundesliga season’s most exciting story.

I don’t understand why Tymoschchuk was bought when Van Bommel is there, it just doesn’t make any sense as Tymoschchuk would be expecting to start most games as he’s been great for Ukraine and in Europe.

Interesting the situation Luca Toni has found himself in, big calls for him in the Premiership but surely he’ll head back to Italy – he can still score goals there.